Smartphones are a huge business and many computer makers have jumped into the segment as a way to grab more revenue at a time when PC shipments are at their lowest point in years. The smartphone market is continuing to grow along with the netbook market despite the global economy.

According to a slide deck that turned up at an Intel Investors conference, the chipmaker is looking to get into the smartphone market itself starting in 2011. This move makes a lot of sense and is really to be expected considering that many of Intel's partners are getting into the smartphone market giving Intel an easy in for a new smartphone product line.

The slides show where the smartphone product called Medfield fits into Intel's current product roadmap. Today Intel's Menlow and Moorestown platforms are aimed at a similar market including UMPCs, MIDs, and netbooks. Starting in the second half of 2009/2010, the slides have Intel releasing a 45nm Moorestown platform that will reduce idle power consumption figures by 50% compared to Menlow and target MIDs more aggressively. In 2011, the Medfield 32nm platform is going to debut. The platform will specifically target the smartphone market where Intel points out the total addressable market is as high as 400 million units.

With any smartphone or MID, idle power is an important metric that directly relates to how long the device can be used between charges. The current Menlow platform consumes 1.6W in standby according to the slides and Moorestown will need about half that amount and will reduce the board size by two times. In 2011, Medfield will reduce the board size and standby power needs even further, however, the slides don’t offer any details on exactly how significant the reductions will be.